Stoker.



H. E. STOVER.

STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1912.

1 ,060,03, Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

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IN VE NTOR WITNESSES I BY M H. E. STOVER.

STOKER.

- APPLIOATION rmm MAY 22, 1912. 1,060,036, Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

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WITNESSES ATTORNEY H. B. STOVBR.

STOKER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 22, 19

1,060,036, PatentedApnZQ, 1913.

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5 IN! EIV 1 j OR WI 7 NESSES UNTTED @TATEd PATEN T FFTE HARMON E.STOVER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE BALD- WINLOCOMOTIVE WORKS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION orPENNSYLVANIA.

STOKER.

oeoose;

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, HARMON E. STOVER, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city of Philadelphia,county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a newand useful Stoker, of which the following is a specification.

My inventlon relates to mechanical stokers for use for delivering fuel,such as coal, into a furnace or fire box of a locomotive or stationaryboiler or, generally, to any combustion chamber.

It is the object of my invention to provide, in a mechanical stoker,means for efficiently delivering and directing the fuel to the pointsrequired; and it is a further object of my invention to provide amechanical sto-ker which, considering the amount of fuel deliveredtherefrom, shall be operated with low power consumption and which shallbeeasy of manipulation and control.

My invention resides in mechanical stoking apparatus having the featureshereinafter described and claimed.

For an illustration of one of the forms my. invention may take referenceis to be had 'to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figural is a side elevational view, partly in section, of one form of mystoking apparatus in operative position with respect to a fire box. Fig.2 is a vertical sectional view, parts in elevation, to larger scale,taken on the line AA of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a ver tical sectional view,parts in elevatio taken on the line BB Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontalsection on the line CC. of Fig. 2, the parts below being shown in planview. Fig. -5 is a side elevation of a modified form of fuel supplyingapparatus such as may he used when the fuel 1s supplied by a conveyer orthe like.

Referring to the drawings, the front face or wall 1 of the fire box of alocomotive boiler, or of any other fire box, furnace, or combustionchamber, is provided with the fire door 2 having the flange 3 extendingaround its periphery and extending toward the combustion chamber. Thefire door frame 4 is hinged to the face or wall plate 1 at 5, and istherefore adapted to be swung, like an ordinary door upon these hingesto and away from the fire door opening 2. This door frame 4 carries theStoker proper Specification of Letters Patent.

which may accordingly be swung away from the position shown in Figs. 1and 2 upon the aforementioned hinges. Integral with or secured to thedoor frame 4: are the top and bottom brackets 6 each carrying a pivotpin 7, these pivots being in vertical axial alinement. The stoker casingis substantially spherical in shape though other shapes are within myinvention, and comprises the upper and lower sections 8 and 9,respectively, held together by bolts 10. Each of the parts 8 and 9 has asocket 11 adapted to receive a pivot 7, upon which the parts 8 and 9, as

Patented Apr. 29, 1913. Application filed May 22, 1912. Serial No.698,904.. A

a unit, are adapted to move or rotate about a vertical axis passingthrough said pivots 7. The door frame 4: has an outwardly projectingflange 12' surrounding a circular opening into which the stokr casing isadapted to partially enter. Upon a lug 13 upon the upper member 8 thereis pivoted at 14 a hand lever 15 having a nose 16 adapted to enter intoany one of a plurality of openings 17 in the upper bracket 6. I Bylifting the handle 15 the nose 16 is withdrawn from a hole 17 and thenthe casing 8, 9 may be rotated upon the pivots 7 through a desirableangle and locked in position by releasing the handle 15 and allowvingthe nose 16 to enter the adjacent open ing 17.

The upper member 8 is provided with chutes or passages 18 communicatingwith the;interior of the stoker casing and open at their upper ends 19.The upper opening 19 of each chute 18 has a contour indicated by thelines 20, Fig. 4, so that in every position to which the casing 8, 9 isrotated upon pivots 7 the opening 19 will register with the opening 21'of. the throat 22 of the horizontal cylindrical casing 23 securedindependently of the casing 8, 9 upon the door frame a, or any othersuitable support. The lower end of the member 22 has a. horizontalflange or plate 24 of such shape and size that in every position towhich the casing 8, 9 is rotated upon pivots 7 it will cover the opening19 in the chute 18. Secured to the casing 23 and extending horizontallyaround the same in the form of a girdle or yoke is the member 25,extending across the open ends of the casing 23. At each open end of thecasing 23 the yoke 25 forms a bearing for a short-shaft 26 upon which issecured the cylindrical cage or trap member 27, disposed within thecasing 23. To one of the short shafts 26 is secured a handle 28 forwhich a stop 29 is provided on the yoke 25. The end walls of thecylinder 27 form closing end walls for the casing 23. The cylindricalwall of the member 27 -is open from the points 30 to.31, Fig. 2, and, inthe position shown, the opening so formed registers with'the outletopening 31 in the bottom of the hopper 32 provided with sloping bottommembers 33 inclined toward the openings 31.

Where fuel, such as coal, is to be delivered manually to the hopper 32,the hopper may be open at the side as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.However, the hopper 32 may be open at the top, as indicated in Fig. 5particularly when the fuel is to be delivered thereto as by a conveyer34.

When the handle 28 rotates in a clockwise direction, or in thedirect-ion of the arrow in Fig. 2, the cylinder member 27 is rotateduntil the edge 30 entirely closes off the passage 31 and the edge 32uncovers the pas- Sage 21.

The casing members 8 and 9 are provided with the bearing enlargements 35fitting each other in a horizontal plane, as seen in Fig. 1, and formingbearings for the shaft shape with pivoted at 36 extending through thespherical chamber within the casing 8, 9. The shaft 36 has securedthereto at its right end, Fig. 3, a collar 37, and at its other end abeveled gear 38. This collar and the gear prevent end play of the shaft37, or allow only a relatively small end play. Secured upon or integralwith the shaft 36 and disposed within the spherical chamber is the disk39 carrying at its periphery a plurality of scoops or buckets 40 eacscoop being provided wlth a lug 41 extending along the face of the disk39 and secured thereto by rivets, bolts, or otherwise. And each of theseconcave scoops is set into a suitablyformed depression or socket in theperiphery of the disk 39, and the outer edge 42 of each scoop conformsin the inner spherical wall of the casin 8, 9. The disk 39 divides thisspherical c amber into two compartments with each of which communicatesone of the chutes 18. Preferably, alternate scoops have their receivingends 43 opening into one compartment and their opposite ends 44extending into the other compartment. The scoops extend across the disk39 and are inclined toward the inner spherical wall of the casing 8, 9so that the points 44 come quite close, as by a loose running fit, withthat inner wall, preventing the passage of any substantial amount offuel from one compartment to the other through the scoops.

The casing member 9 carries a bracket 45 having a bearing 46 for theshort shaft 47 to which is secured the beveled gear 48 meshing with thegear 38. The shaft 47 is 49 to the member 50 which is in way of example.

turn pivoted at 51, at right angles to the pivot 49, to the shaft 52having the square shank 53 engaging in the square socket 54 in the endof the shaft 55.

56 is a sleeve extending over the longitudinally sliding coupling 53,54. 1 The shaft is pivoted at 57 to the member 58 which is in turnpivoted at 59, at right angles to the pivot 57, to the shaft 60,extending through the deck 61 of the locomotive, by The shaft hassecured thereto the bevel gear 62 meshing wit-h the bevel gear 63secured upon the shaft 64 of the motor M, which may be any suitable typeof motor, such, for example, as a rotary steam engine, here shown, forexample, as supported below the floor or deck 61.

In the casing 8, 9 is provided an opening 65 past which the scoops 40are rotated, in

the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2. The

opening 66 has its major extent below the shaft 36, and its upper edge65 is substantially horizontal. It is to be understood, however, that myinvention is not limited in this respect, for it is within the scope ofmy invention to employ an opening of different shape and differentlypositioned.

The operation is as follows: The motor M drives the shaft 36 through theintermediate earing described, comprised in part by the shafting whichwill allow movement of the gear 48 out of alinement with the shaft 60.The shaft 36 drives the disk' and the attached scoops in the directionof the arrow indicated in Fig. 2. There being a supply of coal in thehopper 32, coal may be fed into either compartment or both compartmentsof the caslng 8, 9 by actuating either or both handles 28. When a handle28 is rotated, as hereinbefore described, coal is admittedfrom hopper 32through passage 31 into the cylindrical member 27, which when rotated,as described, discharges the coal within it into the chute 18,simultaneously closing the bottom of the hopper 32. Upon restoration ofthe handle 28 to the position shown the member 27 will receive a newcharge of fuel. The coal or fuel delivered through chute 18 into acompartment in the spherlcal casing 8, 9, is picked up by the scoopswhose open ends 43-project into that com artment, and the fuel iscarried around at high speed until the opening 65 is reached when itleaves the scoop at high speed and passes through the door frame 4 andthrough the fire box opening 2 into the fire box or combustion chamber,the delivery of fuel being from substantially the entire length of thescoop'from its rear edge 43 to its tip 44. With the casing locked in theposition shown in Fig. 4, that is with the lever 15 in central positionengaging in the central slot or aperture 17, the fuel is thrown ordelivered longitudinally of the fire box or combustion chamber spreadingmore or cated in Fig. 4,

alinement BEST AVAILABLE COPY less to one or either side of thelongitudinal axis thereof and distributing fromthe front to the far endof the combustion chamber. To direct the delivery of fuel transverselyof the firebox to either side thereof, the fireman will lift the lever15, withdrawing the nose 16 from the hole 17, leaving the casing 8, 9free to be oscillated about a vertical axls on the pivots 7, 7 directingthe opening 10 65 to one side or the other of the fire box, the movementbeing secured by moving the lever to one side or the other. The deliveryextends then from side to side of the fire box and fro-m near end to theremote 15 end, giving substantially uniform distribution throughout theentire combustion chamber. Of course coal or fuel admitted to the othercompartment of the casing 8, 9

is similarly distributed and when coal is ad mitt-ed to bothcompartments simultaneously the two sets of scoops distribute the fuelin crossed streams quite uniformly throughout the fire box. The casing8, 9 may be returned to central position indior may be locked in anyother position by engagement of nose 16 in the adjacent aperture 17.During this operation or partial rotation of the casing 8,

9 the shaft 36 and the disk 39 and scoops 40 30 continue revolving athigh speed and move with the casing 8, 9. And the connection wit-h themotor M is maintained because of the shafting and gearing hereinbeforede' scribed allowing the gear 48 to move out of with the shaft 60 whilecontinuing to drive the gear 38 secured upon the shaft 36. Andir'respectiveof what position the casing 8, 9 may be oscillated orrotated to, the passages 21 maintain communication m w th the chutes 18;the chutes 18 moving with the casing 8, 9 while the casings 23, is mbers22 and plates 24 remain stationary. bile l have herein shown the casing8, aherical in shape, especially with re- L0 the interior thereof, it isto be und stood that the chamber need not be comietely spherical asshown, but may be more or flattened? or otherwise shaped, particularlyat the ends of the diameter correw spending with the shaft axis. And-itis to be further understood that my invention is not limited to aspherically shaped chamher or casing, except where so pointed out in theclaims. What I claim is:

' 1. In a stoker, a casing forming a hollow chamber, fuel propellingmeans rotatable within said chamber, a shaft in fixed relation wit-hrespect to said casing for driving said fuel propelling means, andmeans'for shifting said casing about a vertical axis for varying theplane of rotation of said fuel propelling means. I 2. The combinationwith a casing forming a chamber, of fuel propelling means rotatablewithin said casing in fixed relation thereto, a fixed motor, means for,shifting said casing and said fuel propelling means together to changethe plane of rotation of said fuel propelling means, means maintainingpower connection between said motor and said fuel propelling means, anda deck between said motor and said casing.

3. The combination with a casing forming a chamber, of fuel propellingmeans rotatable in said chamber, a chute on said chamber for deliveringfuel into said chamber, said chute and chamber being movable to changethe plane ofrotation of'said fuel propelling means, stationary means fordelivering fuel into said chute, and means for maintaining registerbetween said chute and said last named means.

4. The combination with a supporting member, of a casing providedthereon on a vertical axis, fuel propelling means within and movablewith said casing rotatable upon a horizontal axis, said supportingmember and casing having apertures remaining in register for thedifferent positions .of said casing. I

5. The combination with afire door having an aperture, of a casinghaving an aperture registering with said fire door aperture, fuelpropelling means rotatable within said casing, and means for shiftingsaid casing upon said fire door to change the plane of rotation of saidfuel propelling means. a

6. The combination with a fire door having an aperture, of a casingpivoted on said fire door and having an aperture registering with saidfire door aperture, and fuel propelling means rotatable within saidcasing, said casing being movable on its pivotal 5 axis for varying theplane of rotation of said fuel propelling means.

7. The combination with a fire door swingable upon a vertical axis, of acasing pivoted on another vertical axison said fire v door, said doorand easing having registering apertures, and fuel pro elling meansmovable with and rotatable within said casing about a horizontal axis. 7

8. The combination with a fire door, of a spherical casing pivoted uponsaid fire door and partially embraced thereby, said casing having anaperture registering with an aperture in said fire door, and rotatablefuel propelling means within said casing, said casing movable about itspivotal axis for changing the plane of rotation of said propellingmeans.

9. The combination with a fire door, of a casing pivoted thereon,rotatable fuel propelling means within said casing and movable therewithto change the plane of rotation of said propelling means, and means forlocking sald casin in diiferent'positions with respect to said e door.

10. The combination with a casing pivoted axis, and means for shiftingsaid casing about its axis to change the plane of rotation of said fuelpropelling means. 11. The combination with a casing pivoted upon avertical axis, of rotatable fuel propelling means within said casingdividing said easing into lateral compartments, a fuel chute for each ofsaid compartments on and movable with said casing delivering into eachcompartment, stationary fuel supplying'means for each chute, and meansfor maintaining register between said chute and said fuel supplyingmeans for different positions of said casing upon its pivotal axis.

12. The combination with a casing pivoted upon a vertical axis, ofrotatable fuel propelling means within said casing dividing said casinginto lateral compartments,

a fuel chute on and movable with said casing delivering into eachcompartment, stationary fuel supplying means for each chute, and meansfor maintaining register between said chute and said fuel supplyingmeans for different positions of said casing upon its pivotal axis, saidchutes being disposed at opposite sides of said pivotal axis of saidcasing.

13. The combination with a fire door, of horizontally extending-bracketson said fire door, one disposed above the other, a vertical pivot forsaid fire door, a casing supported by vertical pivots in said bracketsfor movement with respect to said door, said fire-door and easing pivotshaving different axes and fuel propelling means within and movable withsaid casing.

14. The combination with a pivotal casing, of rotatable fuel propellingmeans within said casing, a shaft driving said means, a bevel gear onsaid shaft outside of said casing, a bracket on said casing, a gearmeshing with said first named gear rotatable on said bracket, and meansfor driving said last named gear.

15. The combination with a pivotal casing, of-rotatable fuel propellingmeans within said casing, a shaft driving said means, a bevel gear onsaid shaft outside of said casing, a bracket on said casing, a gearmeshing-with said first named gear rotatable on said bracket, astationary motor for driving said last named gear, and means formaintaining power connection between said rounding said aperture -saidcasing in motor and said last named gear while said casing moves aboutits pivotal axis.

16. A stoker comprising a casing movable on a pivotal axis, and fuelpropelling means in said casing rotatable about an axis at right anglesto said pivotal axis, said casing and said propelling means movabletogether to change the plane of rotation of said propelling means.

17. A stoker comprising a casing movable on apivotal axis, fuelpropelling means in said casing movable with said casing and rotatableabout an'axis at right angles to said pivotal axis, and a supportingmember for said casing movable on a pivotal axis parallel to the pivotalaxis of said casing.

18. In a stoker, the combination with a pivot-ed casing, of a memberrotatable therein in fixed positionwith respect to said casing andhaving a circular periphery extending to the inner wall of said casing,and a plurality of buckets or scoops set in the periphery of said memberand transverse thereto.

19. The combination with a door frame having an aperture, a flangethereon surand having a substantially spherically shaped seat, aspherical casing pivoted on said door frame and projecting into saidaperture and close to said seat, said casing having an apertureregistering with said first named aperture, and fuel propelling meansrotatable within fixed relation with respect thereto, whereby saidcasing may be moved upon its pivot with respect to said flange to directfuel through said apertures in different directions.

' 20. In a stoker, the combination with a pivot-ed casing, of a memberrotatable withinsaid casing in fixed relation thereto and a plurality ofbuckets or scoops carried by said member at the periphery thereof andeach of them extending from one side of said member across said memberto the other side thereof, whereby fuel is delivered from HABMON E.STOVER.

Witnesses:

ELEANO T. MOOALL, BEATRICE WHITNEY.

' both sides of said member and directed by

